The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Abdul Ningi engaged in a heated debate on Tuesday over the allocation and usage of governors’ security votes in tackling state-level insecurity.
The exchange occurred during discussions on a motion of urgent national importance brought by Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro (PDP, Gombe South) regarding the persistent banditry, killings, and displacement in Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe State.
Senator Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) raised concerns about governors’ failure to utilize their security votes, reportedly no less than ₦500 million monthly, to address insecurity in their states. He challenged Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, to explain why state governments rely heavily on federal interventions despite the constitutional role of governors as chief security officers of their states.
In his response, Akpabio defended governors, stating that many preventive security measures go unreported. “When you become a governor, you’ll understand what they do with the security vote. The threats they stop often surpass what the public sees,” Akpabio said, while accusing the media of focusing solely on negative news.
Call for Modern Ranches and Security Reforms
The Senate resolved to urge the federal government to fund modern ranches nationwide to promote safety and economic productivity for herders and residents. It also called for a law to clearly define the limits of economic activities under the ECOWAS treaty.
Additionally, the Upper Chamber directed key security agencies, including the Nigerian Police, Army, and Department of State Services (DSS), to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of the December 11 attacks in Billiri, where suspected herders killed several residents, burned homes, and destroyed food supplies.
The Senate tasked its committees on legislative compliance, police affairs, and national security to ensure the resolutions are enforced and to devise lasting solutions to insecurity in affected areas.
Motion Details and Tragic Losses in Gombe
In presenting the motion, Senator Yaro decried the recurrent attacks on Sansani, Kalindi, Powishi, and Lawushi Daji communities, where armed assailants reportedly killed residents, including a cleric, destroyed property, and displaced scores of families.
Citing constitutional provisions, Yaro stressed Nigerians’ right to life and freedom of movement. He called for immediate humanitarian aid to the affected areas and the establishment of a joint military-police task force to prevent further attacks.
“The scale of destruction in Billiri is alarming,” Yaro said. “We must act swiftly to protect lives and restore peace.”
The Senate’s resolutions underscore the growing urgency to address Nigeria’s security challenges at both federal and state levels.
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